1 Samuel 2:28

And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The unnamed man of God addresses Eli, recounting God’s past selection of Eli’s ancestor as priest. This declaration occurs during a prophetic rebuke regarding Eli’s household’s mishandling of the sanctuary offerings.

The words — The verb בָּחַר (bachar) means “to choose” or “select,” marking a definitive divine act. The phrase מִכֹּל (mikol) translates “from all,” specifying that the priestly appointment was drawn exclusively from Israel’s tribes.

The thread — This appointment pattern matches Exodus 28:1 and Leviticus 8:7, where God formally designates Aaron and his sons for priestly service. The provision of food offerings corresponds to Numbers 18:19, which codifies the permanent grant of holy gifts to the priestly house.

Why it lands — The text establishes that priestly authority and material provision derive entirely from divine election, not human lineage or effort. It requires readers to acknowledge God’s sole right to appoint office and distribute sacred resources without elevating family status above divine order.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

Cross-references

Exodus 28:1 “Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.
Leviticus 8:7 He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him.
Numbers 18:19 All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD for you and your offspring.”
Exodus 28:4 These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests.
Leviticus 2:3 The remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD.
Leviticus 2:10 But the remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD.
Leviticus 6:16 Aaron and his sons are to eat the remainder. It must be eaten without leaven in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.
Leviticus 7:7 The guilt offering is like the sin offering; the same law applies to both. It belongs to the priest who makes atonement with it.
Leviticus 7:32 And you are to give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from your peace offering.
Leviticus 7:34 I have taken from the sons of Israel the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a permanent portion from the sons of Israel.’”